Marissa & Kyle: October Diary Entry

Follow the adventures of our Diary of a Newport Wedding, featuring an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look into all of the coordination, planning, and excitement leading up to Marissa Giammarco and Kyle Sawaia’s big day!

October 2017

Who we are and how we met

My fiancé, Kyle, and I met in 2007, when we were both performing in Providence bands. My pop/rock band was looking for a new drummer, and one of my bandmates suggested Kyle because his drumming skills were very impressive. Kyle decided to join our band and that was it. We fell in love with each other’s creativity and passion for the arts.

In 2010 Chloe Grace Sawaia was born and our beautiful daughter became our number one priority and the light of our life. Since then, I put down the microphone, picked up a makeup brush, and I became a certified makeup artist for M.A.C. Cosmetics. During my time there I’ve had the opportunity to work on numerous major motion pictures that filmed in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Being a computer science major, Kyle works as a senior programmer for a mental health facility, still plays drums in many bands, and most recently started his own custom music company called Flexotracks, creating music for television and film.

I believe our creativity truly brought us together. We’re parents, business associates and most of all best friends that can’t wait to be husband and wife.

Where I said, “yes!”

Christmas Eve has been my favorite day of the year ever since I can remember. I usually never do, but this particular Christmas Eve, I had to work right up until the festivities began. Anxiously driving home that evening, I had to pick up pies and wrap my head around getting myself and our six-year-old daughter “Christmas party” ready within an hour. As I stumbled up the steps with my pies, Kyle said, “Come and see the tree; Chloe made you a special ornament.” I walked over to the tree in a hurry and started looking around in almost a frustrated way. Trying not to disappoint Chloe, I kept looking around while they were playing a game of hot and cold. I was just about to give up when all of a sudden I spotted the brightest, most sparkly diamond ring hanging from a tree branch. I was in complete shock! Kyle got down on one knee, with our daughter by his side, and asked me to be his wife. Chloe proceeded to cry and say that was the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. Best. Christmas. Ever.

Why Newport?

We chose Newport, Rhode Island to get married because we truly feel that the beauty and elegance of the city is a representation of our love and it has always been a special place for us to visit. As a little girl, my dream was always to be married by the sea. As a matter of fact, the meaning of my name Marissa is “of the sea.”

What’s next?

I didn’t want to wait! When all the craziness from our engagement wore off, we realized trying to plan a wedding in six months wasn’t realistic for what we wanted. This Cinderella and her prince decided on May 12, 2018. Plenty of time to plan, won’t feel stressed and have everything exactly how I dreamed. Our next order of business… choosing a theme, venue, photographer and our wedding party!